Knowledge, Awareness and Attitude of Pharm.D. Students on Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Report

Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) is a strategy to optimize antimicrobials and prevent the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Pharm.D. students are future Clinical pharmacists who play a key role in promoting rational use and implementing AMS programs. Only a few studies about their knowledge, awareness and attitude regarding AMS exist. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the middle of December 2023, among Pharm.D. students of different academic years from three Pharmacy colleges and Pharm.D. graduates in South India. The survey was conducted online using a validated questionnaire and Pharm.D. students audited the results under the guidance of an Infectious disease specialist. The survey comprised 17 questions covering demographic information, AMS knowledge, attitude and awareness questionnaires. This study included a total of 190 respondents. However, only 32.11% reported having participated in any AMS activity during their period of pharmacy education. Pharm.D. students have a positive attitude (72.48%) and optimal awareness (65.13%) but they lack sufficient knowledge (45.19%) towards AMS, specifically regarding surgical prophylaxis and antibiotic allergy testing. It serves as a valuable resource for educators, policymakers and stakeholders involved in shaping the curricula of Pharm.D. programs to enhance the training and preparedness of students in AMS practices. In the future, AMS education programs should target not only clinicians but also Pharm.D. students and interns.